Samsung plagiarised Apple icons

Samsung withdraws new handset after admitting to using Apple icons without permission.

by
Macworld staff
, | 08 May 06

Samsung has changed the graphics used in its new 'Skin' handset after admitting it copied the icons used in the phone from original work by Apple and Microsoft.

The handset has been recalled so Samsung can change these icons. It's currently only available in South Korea.

The company had used Apple's TextEdit icon for its word processing features, and had also used a Sherlock-like icon for its search feature. Samsung also "borrowed" Microsoft's icon for MSN Messenger.

Samsung's chief designer Chung Kook-hyun told the Korea Times: "There were a few mistakes while we were developing the new product. We have already fixed the designs and I believe that the old models are not being sold in the market anymore.''

He declined to say who had chosen to put the contentious designs into the new mobile phone, which was announced with a huge marketing campaign in the country last month.